By Tasha Downing | Photography by Shanna Wolf
In Nicole Pease’s modern Tudor-style home, sun-filled rooms burst with personality. For her, the setting is especially meaningful — having grown up in Lake Geneva and later raising her daughter there, she sought a property that was close to town but also offered the serenity of the area’s natural landscape.
“I spend the majority of my time here during the year, and love to host friends and family,” says Pease. “The indoor-outdoor flow really makes it a place people want to linger in.”
Pease is a designer herself and her family is rooted in construction and development. For her home, she worked closely with Fox Development Homes, her family’s company out of McHenry, Illinois, to lead the design and create an intentional space she could enjoy.
“I wanted the home to feel timeless, but fresh — high-end but not super formal,” says Pease. “I wanted to bring in natural elements that tell a story, like hand-painted tiles and unique finishes.”
Touches like this include the white oak ceilings and beam in the living room, which were sourced from a barn in Solon Mills, Illinois, where the Barnum & Bailey Circus elephants were once kept.
Pease says that the three-season room is one of her home’s most- used spaces. It features oversized terracotta tile flooring and stucco finishes and can be closed off in the winter or left open during warmer months. The vintage coffee table was found at a flea market.
“I was told it may have originally been part of an antique Asian daybed, most likely from the late 1800s to early 1900s,” says Pease. “I love bringing in pieces with character and history.”
The gas fireplace in the three-season room is double-sided, shared with the living room on the opposite side. It’s flanked by floor-to-ceiling windows, which allow for a clear sight line from the front of the home to the rear, bringing in sunlight and natural views.
The dining room has a luxe but cozy feel, with sculptural chairs from CB2 and a mango wood table from Birch Lane. The recessed ceiling detail adds height and dimension, accented with a chandelier from Arteriors that is made of white-washed wood.
“I was drawn to its organic texture,” says Pease. “It brings in a natural element in an unexpected way.”
Pease says the pool was a must-have for her home. For convenience, a half bath, outdoor shower and mudroom are located adjacent to it. When she entertains, it’s the spot that people (and dogs) don’t want to leave, where conversations stretch late into the night.
“I keep the pool heat set at 90 degrees from April through October, so we can enjoy it most of the year,” says Pease.
The space was designed for guests and dogs alike, with a mudroom featuring a sink and countertop — equally appropriate for filling up a dog bowl or setting up a cocktail bar. The homeowner’s beloved pup, Buoy, loved the Lake Geneva lifestyle, joining her for every adventure, whether it’s riding in a golf cart, eating downtown or entertaining at home. Pease is grateful that her home is perfectly suited for her life.
“I love that my home reflects my personality — it feels layered, intentional and very much like me,” she says.
“The goal was a spa-like feel, but still grounded and inviting,” says Pease.
Tremendous Tile
Dianne Fasano, founder of Bella Tile & Stone in Lake Geneva, has been helping clients like Nicole Pease select the perfect tile for 20 years. (Fasano is planning a summer celebration to honor her business’s milestone.)
She gave us the inside scoop on homeowner Nicole Pease’s tile choices in her home.
How would you describe the style in the guest bath?
Nicole’s tile selection is a nod to timeless tribal motifs with a modern twist. We used a ceramic tile with a Zellige look. As you can see in the photos, each piece varies slightly, creating a beautifully unique and organic feel.
What was behind the design of the primary bath?
It has a European style, but with more of an organic feeling. We chose a gorgeous shell stone floor and added a pop of color on [Nicole’s] vanity wall with handmade tile from Arto Brick, a company we love.”